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1135742

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the environmental risks of disposing of polyurethane used in furniture which has been treated with tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP).
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL16835
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) is also known by its regulatory process name, tris (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCCP).</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency worked with chemical authorities in the Republic of Ireland to initially assess the risks of TCPP in 2008. The potential environmental and human health risks of TCPP in products and other objects are currently being considered by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and European Union member state scientists. Subsequently, building on a greater body of evidence, the ECHA, supported by Danish and German work are evaluating the properties of this substance and considering a legal restriction on it.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on this is expected soon and will help identify the chemical properties and environmental risks from TCPP in products like furniture.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 10/07/2019 15:30:43 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1131899

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Chemicals: Regulation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 4 June (HL15892), why, if the terms DecaBDE and DecaPBDE are interchangeable, DecaBDE has been banned whilst production of DecaPBDE continues.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL16317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>DecaBDE refers to Decabromodiphenyl Ether, a substance which falls under a wider group of chemicals known as Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). DecaBDE has not been produced in the UK since the late 1990s. DecaPBDE is not a term that is generally used to describe this or any other substance and no such substance is produced in the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/06/2019 14:49:09 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1128007

registered interest
date	21/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Fire Resistant Materials
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15634), whether DecaBDE is the same chemical as DecaPBDE; and whether production and use of DecaPBDE continues in the UK.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL15892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) is a group of chemicals consisting of brominated hydrocarbons, of which decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is one. When the term DecaPBDE is used in literature it usually refers to DecaBDE.</p><p> </p><p>The UK ceased production of DecaBDE in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. It has been banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants since December 2018 and this will be reflected in the revision to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and also under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, since March 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:24:04 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1124887

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they taking to comply with the Stockholm Agreement and other agreements on the control of hazardous chemicals for any UK upholstered furniture containing a number of persistent organic pollutants with no available information or register of their chemical composition, in particular, flame retardants.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL15562
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK has some of the most rigorous chemical regulations in the world. The Government implements the Stockholm Convention through EU Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Chemicals in use also have to go through assessments under the REACH Regulation (No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). All furniture placed on the market in the UK must comply with these regulations.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to improving traceability of chemicals in products and waste and are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on this.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the Government is reviewing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has consulted on whether to introduce a specific requirement for furniture labels to stipulate any flame retardants used in their manufacture. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:03:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

972727

registered interest
date	12/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Veterinary Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why, as reported in the National Audit Office report on Defra's Progress in Implementing EU Exit, Defra was not permitted to engage with the veterinary industry in April; and which authority prevented that engagement.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL10310
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2018 answer text <p>Since March, Defra has engaged privately with stakeholders in the veterinary industry to make progress on delivery planning for leaving the EU. Defra welcomes input from any interested parties to help inform our work in preparing for leaving the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Public engagement with the veterinary industry required wider interests across Government to be taken into account, including negotiation sensitivities and the need for consistent messages to different industries.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 18/09/2018 11:35:44 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

972728

registered interest
date	12/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Veterinary Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to consult the veterinary profession before any changes are made to meet veterinary workforce capacity that could impact on the UK’s ability to trade animals and animal products in line with high welfare standards; and if so, when.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL10311
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2018 answer text <p>Defra is working closely with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other partners to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of veterinarians to fill essential roles in Government and the private sector after the UK has left the EU. Defra welcomes the continued and valuable input made by the RCVS and BVA into this important work.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 19/09/2018 08:48:05 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

971904

registered interest
date	11/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to warn the public (1) about sofas and mattresses that contain the toxic flame-retardant chemical DecaBDE, (2) that these items are unsuitable for recycling; and (3) that they should be disposed of safely.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL10265
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2018 answer text <p>The UK ceased production of decaBDE in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. Many other countries have also phased out its use, thanks to proactive lobbying by the UK government.</p><p> </p><p>It will be banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants in December this year and under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, in March next year. It will not be present in household soft furnishings and mattresses offered for sale once the ban comes into effect.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with stakeholders and experts to determine the likely extent of decaBDE in older soft furnishings and assessing the best disposal routes to protect the environment and human health.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/09/2018 11:35:24 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

890729

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Environment Agency: Motor Vehicles
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many vehicles the Environment Agency holds at present; how many new vehicles have been purchased in the last year; and at what cost.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL7248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2018 answer text <p>The Environment Agency has a total of 5,119 road registered vehicles and plant equipment. 183 vehicles were brought onto the fleet in the Financial Year 2017/18 at a total cost of £5,342,344. 23 of these vehicles were road registered plant equipment, such as excavators and tractors, and made up £2,536,052 of the total cost. The new vehicles were bought to replace older ones, some of which may still be awaiting sale and are therefore included in the total vehicle figure.</p><p> </p><p>The size of the Environment Agency fleet has been reduced by approximately 20% over the last seven years. Defra Group Fleet Services are constantly reviewing the size of the fleet, its makeup and its impact on the environment, to ensure we deliver the best operational service with the lowest environmental impact at the best possible price.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 08/05/2018 16:25:13 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

818609

registered interest
date	08/01/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Glyphosate
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of Defarge et al in Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides published in Toxicology Reports, volume 5, about the use of so-called inert ingredients in those chemical formulations.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL4486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2018 answer text <p>The paper by Defarge et al studied the effects of glyphosate (and other active substances) and of a number of other components of pesticide formulations. It concludes that the effects of those other components are greater than the effects of glyphosate and suggests a need to assess the impacts of pesticide products.</p><p> </p><p>The current system for regulating pesticides does assess the impacts of both active substances and formulated products. The assessment and decision making for active substances is carried out at EU level; the equivalent process for products takes place nationally. This means that the potential impacts of each product are assessed; it is not assumed that a product is safe simply because the active substances it contains have been approved. The EU is also developing a list of chemicals which will be prohibited from use in pesticide products.</p><p> </p><p>The review of glyphosate raised some concerns over the inclusion of POE tallowamines in formulated products. In August 2016, the European Commission therefore instructed Member States to require the removal of these chemicals from glyphosate products. The UK has implemented this requirement.</p><p> </p><p>The Commission decided in December 2017 to approve glyphosate for continuing use until December 2022. Following that decision the UK and other Member States will review the product authorisations of all herbicides containing glyphosate. This review will take account of the relevant data on the properties of the products, as well as the properties of glyphosate as the active substance. Product authorisations will only be renewed if the assessment of the scientific evidence concludes that the formulated product will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 22/01/2018 12:48:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

797280

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Brofiscin Quarry
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether capping the limestone quarry at Brofiscin has prevented non-biodegradable PCBs and other toxic materials from leaching into the underlying aquifer affecting water supplies in England.
tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
uin	HL3712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>Brofiscin quarry is on an aquifer (water bearing strata/rock), which is hydrogeologically disconnected from the aquifer beneath Elan Valley reservoirs and the associated aqueduct that contribute to Birmingham public water supply. The distance that separates the two locations is significant; therefore there is no pathway for contamination to migrate from the quarry to the Elan aquifer. The Elan aquifer is the nearest aquifer to Brofiscin quarry that contributes to Birmingham’s public water supply and the Environment Agency does not consider Brofiscin quarry to present any risk to Birmingham’s water supply.</p><p> </p><p>Natural Resources Wales is responsible for regulating the Brofiscin quarry site. Any risks relating to this site are a matter for the devolved Welsh Government.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL3713 question first answered 11/12/2017 13:07:04 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar